Rotating seesaw



5 8 :n M WW .m M 4, 2 ere/fit V nD A n h 0 J J. D. CUMMINGS ROTATING SEESAW Filed Sept. 27, 1946 March 6, 1951 Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTATING SEESAW JohnD. Cummings, Schenectady N. Y.

Application September 27, 1946, Serial No. 699,827

My invention relates to amusement devices and in particular to such devices as are adapted to provide desirable exercise and recreation in the form of a combined see-saw or teeter-totter and a merry-go-round.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved amusement device of the teeter-totter type.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved amusement device of the merry-gm round type.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved amusement device of the combined teeter-totter and merry-go-round type.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent and my invention will be better understood from the following description referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an amusement device incorporating embodiments of my improved features in a combined teetertotter and meri'y go-round; Fig. 2 is a partial sectional side elevational view of the main supporting features shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial end sectional view through the central mounting member of the device; and Fig. 41s a perspective view of a modification of a part of the mounting member shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 an amusement device adapted to act as a combined teeter-totter and merry-go-round or to be used selectively as either one of these. In this construction, the amusement device includes a main supporting member having an upwardly extending mounting cylinder 1' with four interconnected legs 2 extending angularly from adjacent the upper end of the cylinder l and suitably secured thereto, as by welding, at 3. The legs are interconnected by braces 4 which may be secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by welding, and also secured to the upwardly extending cylindrical member I in any suitable manner, as by also being welded thereto adjacent the lower end thereof. This arrangement of four rigid interconnected legs secured to the mounting cylinder l provides a stable support which minimizes the possibility of upsetting the device. The mounting member further includes an upwardly extending shank 5 slidably and rotatably fitted into the mounting cylinder l to the upper end of which a transversely extending jour- 3 Claims. (01. 272-40) nal shaft 6 is secured. This journal shaft may be secured to the shank 5 in any suitable manner, and, as shown, a sleeve 1 is arranged around the central portion of the shaft 6 and secured thereto by a pin 8 which extends through the sleeve 1 and the shaft 6 and is welded thereto and to the upper end of the shank 5. This device is adapted to provide amusement and exercise for a plurality of passengers and is formed with a member for carrying passengers which includes a pair of substantially cylindrical rails 9 and It with a seat I I adjacent each end of the rails rigidly securing together the ends of the rails. The seats I I may also include transversely extending supporting members H! for reinforcing the seat and for assuring a rigid connection between the rails 9 and [0. In order to provide additional support for the passengers, a set of handle bars I3 is mounted on an upwardly extending post it securedto a transversely extending bar l5 secured to the rails 9 and Ill adjacent each seat l I, such that a passenger seated on a seat H can brace himself by grasping the handle bars 13 without bending over too far. The passenger-carrying member is supported on the mounting member by a rigid mounting frame which includes a pair of tubular members it and H slidably fitted around the rails 9 and I0 respectively providing for adjustment of the rails longitudinally relative to the mounting frame, such that a substantially equal moment may be provided about the mounting member by the passengers on each of the seats i I. This can be obtained by sliding the rails 9 and I0 through the tubular members it and I! to shorten the distance between the main mounting member and the seat H which carries the heavier passenger. In use, it is desirable that the rails 9 and 10 should not slide Within the frame members It and i1 after the proper adjustment has been made and, therefore, an arrangement is provided for locking the rails in position relative to the mounting frame. In the illustrated arrangement, this comprises a locking screw l8 which is adapted to be screwed through the tubular member ll into engagement with the rail [0 which extends therethrough for securing the rails in the desired predetermined position relative to the mounting frame. In order to facilitate adjustment of the rails relative to the tubular members I6 and i7 and in order to provide a desirable support for the rails 53 and H), these tubular members l6 and I! are made sufficiently long to prevent binding of the rails in the tubular members, and, in addition, a spacer member is provided for rigidly securing together the tubular members It and II. This spacer member may comprise a pair of longitudinally spaced spacer bars I9 rigidly secured, as by welding, to the tubular members [6 and IT.

The passenger-carrying member, including the rails 9 and I and the seats II, is adapted to be supported in teetering relation on the main mounting member by a pair of axially aligned sleeve bearings rigidly secured one to each of the tubular frame members I6 and I1 transversely and on the underside thereof and rotatably arranged around the transversely extending journal shaft 6. These bearings 20 may be secured to the tubular sleeve members l6 and I! in any suitable manner, as by welding, as indicated at 2|. In some instances it may be found desirable to prevent teetering of the device, and this may be obtained by preventing relative r0- tation between the sleeve bearings 20 and the journal shaft 6. In the illustrated arrangement, this is obtained by the provision of an opening 22 in the journal shaft and aligned openings 23 in the two sides of one of the sleeve bearings 22 which are adapted to register with the journal ing shank 5 is adapted to support the passengercarrying member in horizontally rotatable relation to the main supporting member through a bearing of any suitable type, such as a bronze or brass sleeve bearing 26 arranged around the shank 5 and over the upper end of the mounting cylinder I. This bearing 26 supports the shank 5 through a collar 21 which is longitudinally slidably arranged around the shank 5 and adapted to be rigidly secured thereto in a plurality of predetermined positions to provide for a plurality of heights of the mounting frame relative to the main mounting member. This is obtained by providing a plurality of openings 28 longitudinally spaced in the shank 5 which are adapted to register with a pair of aligned openings 29 in the collar 2'! through which a locking pin 30 is adapted to extend. By adjusting the relative vertical position of the shank 5 to the mounting member cylinder l, the position of the main mounting frame of the device may be adjusted vertically, thereby providing for the desired adjustment of the passenger-carrying member for passengers of different heights. A chain 3| is secured to the head of the pin 38 and to the sleeve '1 to prevent loss of the pin 30.

In adjusting the vertical position of the shank 5, it is desirable that the weight of the device should be removed from the pin 36 and the collar 21 and, therefore, a locking screw 32 is provided which extends through a threaded opening in the mounting cylinder I and is adapted to engage the shank 5 to secure it in any desired elevated position with the collar 21 out of engagement with the bearing 25, thus supporting the weight of the passenger-carrying member on the mounting member through the locking screw 32, after which the desired adjustment of the position of the collar 21 and pin 30 may be more easily made. As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the shank 5 is made of sufiicient length to provide stability thereto and prevent accidental displacement of the shank 5 from the mounting cylinder I. In some instances, it may be found desirable to prevent relative rotary motion between the passenger-carrying member and the main mounting member, and this may be done by tightening up the locking screw 32, thereby binding the shank 5 to the mounting cylinder l.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a modification of a part of the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 in which provision is made for locking the passenger-carrying member in a plurality of predetermined transverse positions relative to the mounting member legs 2. This is provided in the illustrated arrangement by a plurality of outwardly projecting lugs 33 with openings therein which are circumferentially spaced around and secured to the upper end of the mounting cylinder I and which are adapted to cooperate with a projecting lug 34 secured to the collar 2! and having an opening therethrough adapted to register with the opening in any one of the cylinder lugs, such that a locking pin 35 may be inserted through the registered lug openings as shown in Fig. 4 for locking the passenger-carrying member through the lugs in a predetermined position. A chain 36 is secured to the head of the pin 35 and to the mounting cylinder I to prevent loss of the pin] Preferably, all of the major parts of this amusement device are made of structural elements, such as bar stock, pipes, and other suitable tubing. My improved amusement device is adapted to provide exercise to passengers and is adiustable for different weights of passengers as well as for different heights of passengers and may be locked to provide only rotary or merrygo-round action or only teetering action, if desired, or may be used to provide a combination of both of these actions.

While I have illustrated and described particular embodiments of my invention, modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that my invention is not to be limited to the particular arrangements disclosed, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An amusement device including a main supporting member, a transversely extending journal shaft rigidly secured to the upper end of said main supporting member, a member for carrying passengers including a pair of rails with a seat adjacent each end thereof rigidly securing together the ends of said rails, means including a mounting frame having a pair of cylindrical tubular members rigidly secured. together and fitted around said rails, means for securing said rails in position relative to said frame, means including a pair of axially aligned sleeve bearings rigidly secured one to each of said tubular frame members transversely thereof and rotatably arranged around said transversely extending journal shaft for supporting said passenger-carrying member in teetering relation thereon, means including an opening in said journal shaft and an opening in one of said sleeve bearings adapted to register therewith when said rails are substantially in a horizontal position with a pin adapted to be inserted through said registrable openings Y ing mounting cylinder and an upwardly extending shank slidably and rotatably fitted into said mounting cylinder with a transversely extending journal shaft having a sleeve around the central portion' thereof rigidly secured to the upper end of said shank, a member for carrying passen ers including a pair of substantially cylindricalfrails, a mounting frame having a pair of tubular'inembers slidably fitted around said rails providing for adjustment of said rails longitudinally relative to said mounting frame including a memberextending transversely between said tubular members forming a rigid frame structure, and means including a pair of axially aligned sleeve bearings rigidly secured one to each of said tubula'rframe members transversely and on the underside thereof and rotatably arranged around said transversely extending journal shaft in substantially abutting relation with each end of said central sleeve for supporting said passenger-carrying member in teetering relation thereon. r

3. In an amusement device including a main supporting member having an upwardly' extending mounting cylinder with an upwardly eirtending shank slidably and rotatably fitted into said mounting cylinder and a transversely extending journal shaft rigidly secured to the upper, end of said shank, a member for carrying passengers including a pair of substantially cylindricalrails with a seat adjacent each end thereofrigldly securing together the ends of said rai1s,;means including a mounting frame having a pair of 6 tubular members slidably fitted around said rails. means for securing said rails in any predetermined position relative to said frame, means including a pair of axially aligned sleeve bearings rigidly secured one to each of said tubular frame members transversely thereof and rotatably ar= ranged around said transversely extending jour nal shaft for supporting said passenger-carrying member in teetering relation thereon, means including an opening in said journal shaft and an opening in one of said sleeve bearings adapted to register therewith when said passenger-carrying member is substantially in a horizontal position with a pin adapted to be inserted through said registrable openings for preventing teetering movement of said passenger-carrying member, and means for supporting said passengercarrying member in horizontally rotatable relation to said main supporting member.

JOHN D. CUMMINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS 

